The U.S. Small Business Administration has selected Peachtree City-based Aventure Aviation LLC as the winner of both its 2009 state and regional exporter of the year awards. The awards are to be presented on Tuesday, April 28, during a luncheon at Villa Christina in Atlanta.
Charles Boyanton, director of international trade at the University of Georgia’s Small Business Development Center, nominated the company for the annual awards. He told GlobalAtlanta that Aventure has distinguished itself through its “effective” and “innovative” marketing overseas.
The 2009 exporter of the year awards are based on the total number of export deals completed in 2008, increase in sales in 2008 compared to previous years, exports as percentage of total sales, the company’s commitment to export and originality in marketing their products or services.
According to Tiana Hardin, the company’s international sales manager, Aventure’s exports currently account for more than 90 percent of its sales. The company was originally formed in 2001 with one international account and three staff members. It now has a staff of 13.
To accommodate its growth, Aventure moved into its new facility located on six acres of the Foreign Trade Zone in Peachtree City.
Aventure’s customer base includes more than 50 airlines and aircraft operators worldwide, providing products and services ranging from marketing representation, aircraft spares distributorship, aircraft sales and leasing, airport ground support equipment, aviation paint and chemical supplies, technical and engineering services, aircraft component repair management and asset management on behalf of its client airlines.
Ms. Hardin said 2008 sales increased mostly in Mexico in Latin America; Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East and Belgium, France, Germany and Switzerland in Europe.
Mr. Boyanton cited Aventure’s participation in the “Red Bull Flugtag” event in Dubai in 2005 as an example of the company’s daring-do marketing.
“Flugtag” means “flying day” in German and is part of the title for the design and performance contest held annual in Dubai. Aventure coordinated the construction of an aircraft built for a single person to fly in a contest for the furthest distance from a ramp located 18 feet above water.
Company president, Zaheer Faruqi, brought together students from Clayton State University’s Aviation Department in Jonesboro and the Rashid School in Dubai to construct the craft and enter the competition. By finishing in sixth place the company gained recognition in what has become a growing market for its services.
Another marketing initiative also cited by Mr. Boyanton was the use of life-size cutouts of the Wright brothers, who are generally credited with inventing and flying the first viable airplane, at trade shows, which have proved to be successful in generating interest about the company and attracting potential clients.
To learn more about Aventure, go to www.aventureaviation.com or call Ms. Hardin at (770) 632-7930. Mr. Boyanton may be reached by calling (678) 985-6824.
